Psalm 103:17-18, "But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear Him. His salvation extends to the children's children of those who are faithful to His covenant, of those who obey His commandments!"
John 14:23, "Jesus replied, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.'"
There's a reason people say, "It's not brain surgery" or "This isn't rocket science" when referring to what should be easily understood. The average neurosurgeon undergoes fifteen years of schooling. Astronauts in training for space missions receive advanced degrees and work in their field for approximately ten years before they enter the specialized course of intense physical and mental endurance requirements. Can you imagine spending so many years preparing for these professions, and then right before your first day on the job, you decide to throw away everything you've learned and just wing it? Sounds absurd, right? That's because information without application is useless!
Thank goodness Jesus doesn't require fifteen years of biblical training before we can become Christ-followers! Our only requirement is to believe He died for our sins and rose again, and surrender our lives to Him. However, to live a life of success and purpose, obedience to God's commands is key. That requires living life from a biblical perspective and making choices that are grounded in absolute truth. It means that we call sin "sin." Period. We don't follow our feelings - we walk by faith on the path paved with truth. In other words, we apply the information we've learned!
So, as we strive to obey God's commands, we glorify Him and set an example for others to see what living for Christ is all about. When our words and actions reflect Jesus' presence in our lives, we will be richly blessed for it. Again, it's not rocket science!
Spend a few moments reflecting on John 14:23 and consider different areas of your life in which you need to take action steps of obedience! Can people look at your life and see Jesus?
Dear Lord, I love You and seek to obey Your commands. Help me to be mindful of my everyday actions so that You may be glorified in all that I do. In Jesus' name, Amen.